Kspitz’s Weblog

An article from the NY Times describes the recent explosion of the number of blogs written by overweight people who are advocating for “fat acceptance” and calling for an end to the “hysteria” over America’s “perceived” obesity epidemic. In general, many of these bloggers claim that the health risks of being overweight are exaggerated, that Americans are not really any heavier than they used to be, and that the weight loss strategy of  “eat less and exercise more” does not work for the majority of people and is simply a myth.  

Hmm… I had to pause and think about these claims for a moment; some of them I agree with and some I don’t.

First of all, I definitely agree with the idea of body acceptance. I believe that one of the main reasons we have such a high number of overweight people is because for decades we have been sold the idea that there is a “perfect” body and that “thin” is it. This image spawned the development of thousands of “low-fat” food products, which, in reality, are nothing more than fake foods loaded with sugar.  In my nutrition classes we spend a good deal of time discussing eating disorders and their root causes – which really have little to do with food and more to do with body image and self esteem. So yes, I wholeheartedly agree that we should toss out the fashion magazines and the idea that thin equals success and beauty, for of course, it doesn’t.

Yes, there is quite a bit of hype over the level of obesity in our country and it is true that being moderately overweight does not necessarily translate into a higher incidence of disease. However, we must define word “moderate” here. Being 10, 20 or even 30 pounds overweight is not automatically dangerous, especially if you are active and eating a healthful diet and do not have huge amounts of stress in your life. But, when people are 50, 70, and 100 pounds overweight, then health issues do come into play, and the number of people in this category has been steadily increasing in the past 3 decades, especially the past 2 decades.

Are Americans bigger than they used to be?  Yes, absolutely, without a doubt, they are.  I have seen evidence of this in several different aspects of my own career – everything from clothing to car seats (even ballet/pointe shoes) are made in bigger sizes than they were just 20 years ago. Why do we have to build stadiums and movie theaters with larger seats? Could it be linked to the bigger SUV’s with the ever-expanding cup holders?

In response to the “myth” that eating less and exercising more will help you lose weight…I partially agree. It’s true that sometimes even when people are eating healthfully and exercising regularly they do not lose weight, or rather, they do not become “fashion-model thin”.  This goes back to that whole “thin” ideal, which, as we have already established, is false anyway. Genetics plays a significant role in determining body shape and there will always be some rounder bodies and some slimmer bodies within a population, but to imply that exercise – in relation to weight control – is futile is, as far as I’m concerned, just another excuse (and I have heard many) to avoid moving around.  

The human body was designed for movement. It is far more stressful to the spine to sit than to stand, the joints will stiffen and the muscles will atrophy if not used regularly, and the lymph system, which is crucial to detoxification and dietary fat digestion, does not function properly without adequate body movements. Exercise has many, many more benefits than simply weight control.

So, to the “Fatosphere” I say kudos on the self-esteem aspect, ditto for taking the time to speak out, but instead of simply spouting off, why not put that energy to better use? Why not advocate for healthier food in our nation’s schools, cafeterias, restaurants and grocery stores? How about voting for the inclusion of more sidewalks, biking paths, gardens and green spaces within our cities? If these types of things were developed, we would quickly find out if the obesity epidemic is a “myth” or if it is the result of a food system full of overly processed, low quality foods, and a society that encourages less movement instead of a normal, human amount .